Dustin sat at the bar listening ESPN on the television while he typed a reply to an email on his phone. It’d been another hellish day filled with a problematic install. Since he was already in the city, he decided to stop at Reeds.
The family had owned the bar for years and after their father retired Ash and Adler took over the bar. The brothers had spent the last couple years making improvements to the bar making it a huge success. When the store next door became available, the Reeds snatched up the space and knocked out the wall to expand main room. A section of the new floor plan had been turned into a dance floor, the front wall that once housed two large windows was now a wall of windows that could be opened in the summer, and the bar top was extended at least four feet. The Reeds had taken their father’s bar and turned it into a powerhouse, catering to the colleges in the city.
Ash and Adler were the owners and while at least one brother could be found running the bar most nights, Rose also worked at the bar. He lucked out when he walked in and found Adler behind the bar. He hadn’t seen Rose since that night at Trace’s, part of him was thankful that she wasn’t there now.
He tried for days to call her watching her practically run from him. Even thinking now of her curled up on the floor the bathroom shaking like a leaf made his chest ache. She was clearly hurting and he so badly wanted to make it better. She didn’t want his help though. It’s not your job to worry about me Dustin. Her words were like a hit from a two-by-four to the ribs. He eventually gave up and stopped calling he couldn’t force her to turn to him.
He put his phone away and settled back in his seat looking around the bar. For a Tuesday, they weren’t overly busy but it was clear that the bar had no problem getting business during the week.
“Are you going to be home this weekend Dust?” Adler asked bringing his attention back to his friend.
“Was planning on it, why?”
“I should be done with the trailer by then and was going to just swing by after I was done to drop it off.”
“Oh. Well, I was planning on working on the yard, so should be fine.”
Adler thanked him before turning around to refill a drink on the other side of the bar. He was about to ask Adler what he had used the trailer for when a flash of blond caught his eye out of the corner of his eye.
Rose slipped behind the bar talking to Adler a frazzled tone. The oversized red sweater she wore hung off her shoulder giving him a glimpse of her bare skin. Her leather leggings seemed to be painted onto her skin. The black mile-high heeled boots made his mind stray to thoughts of how they’d feel dug into his back.
He looked back up hoping she didn’t catch his stare. As luck would have it she didn’t, she didn’t even seem to notice him. Something was wrong though, he could tell from her flushed cheeks. Her blond hair wasn’t as straight as it commonly was since he came home laid over her shoulders in thick waves. There was no make-up on her face and they dark circles under eyes made him pause.
Adler exchanged keys with her and hugged her close whispering in her ear. Then she was gone before just as quickly as she came with a kiss to Adler’s cheek.
“What was that about?” Dustin asked Adler who was watching his sister’s exit down the hall to the back lot.
“She left Gary,” Adler said wiping down the bar top seemingly shaken by the exchange.
“Well that’s good, right?” It didn’t make sense why Rose finally leaving him would upset her brother.
“Honestly, it’s overdue. She moved out her stuff over the last couple weeks and told him last Friday that she was leaving him. She was staying at a friend’s apartment that was out of town, just temporarily till she figures out what she wants to do next. Everything has been going great for her.”
“Why do I feel like there’s a big but here?” Dustin asked the tension in Adler made him uneasy.
“Past two nights Gary’s been harassing her. He showed up last night drunk and tried to break in.”
“Please tell me she’s not staying there alone now.” His hands fisted the image of Rose scared and alone pissed him off.
Adler sighed and ran a hand through his hair, “I wish I could say yes, but she’s stubborn as all hell. I gave her the keys to my truck and she’s staying at Pop’s farm till Gary’s best friend gets home from his vacation and handle him.”
“Is he even able to be handled?” Dustin highly doubted this guy was able to be handled by anyone.
“I don’t fucking know,” Adler said begrudgingly.
Later as Dustin drove home, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Rose shouldn’t be alone right now. She was alone in a big house with a drunk ex that didn’t seem to get she was done with him. If that didn’t spell bad idea all around he didn’t know what did. As he merged on to the highway, the decision was made and he headed in the opposite direction of home toward the Reed’s family farm. He couldn’t go home and fall asleep knowing that something might happen to her when he could have been there protecting her.
The log cabin home was dark when he pulled up beside Adler’s truck. He read the time he cringing and hoped he didn’t wake her up. He took out his cell scrolling to Rose’s name, he’d call her first to make sure she was up. If not, well then he’d sleep outside in his truck. Just as he was about to press the call button the porch light came on. Rose stepped out on to the porch clutching a small robe around herself. Her head was tilted to the side staring at him. He turned off the truck and stepped out making his way over to her.
“Dustin,” she called out her voice shaken, “You scared me half to death. What are you doing here?”
As he got closer he noticed her bare below the robe on display. He felt his body heat hoping she at least had something on beneath that robe. Now was not the time to let the pull of her body affect him. He stood at the bottom of the stairs, not sure if he was allowed to come closer. “I was worried about you, Adler said you were out her by yourself.”
She swore under her breath and then pulled the door open gesturing him in. “I told them I was fine by myself. Gary doesn’t know about this place. Plus, I made sure to switch my SUV for Adler’s truck this way he wouldn’t be able to look for me that way. I know how to handle this, Dustin. Come in, the least I can do is let you come in and make you a cup of coffee since you drove all the way here.”
“I’d appreciate it,” he said as he walked into the house her arm brushing against his chest.
He heard her intake of breath and turned back worried he stepped on her foot. She didn’t look hurt though, her cheeks were painted with a faint pink blush. Her eyes were traveling the length of his body and her arms wrapped around each other now.
“Sorry,” she whispered, “Just caught a chill.”
She moved across the room around him and made her way into the kitchen. He followed watching her ass sway in the light cotton of the robe. Her bare feet padded on the hardwood lightly. He couldn’t help but take notice of the hot pink polish on her toes. The color seemed so bright for the girl he’d come to know lately. It was a hint of the college girl that caught his eye across a crowded room.
He leaned against the counter watching her set up the coffee maker. Trying desperately not to watch the robe raise up as she reached for the container of coffee grounds in the cabinet. She sat on top of the counter once it was set up. Her robe was slightly parted now and he caught a hint of white lace. It took all his strength to not reach across and open it all the way. Unwrap her with the speed of a kid on Christmas morning.
“It’ll be a little bit,” she said her fingers playing with the tie on her robe. “You didn’t have to come Dustin.”
“I wanted to,” he said moving closer to her, “Rose, if something happened while you were here and I was home. I’d never be able to forgive myself.”
She stared down at her hands seemingly unable to look at him. He took notice of her hair for the first time. The blond locks were gone. The dark hair that caught his eye all those years ago was in its place. Instead of falling down her back it was cut an inch above her shoulders. She was beautiful before but now she was breathtaking.
“Your hair,” his finger wrapped a strand around it, “You changed it.”
She looked up at him finally as she brushed the hair behind her ear. Her eyes looked brighter, not quiet the sparkle he remembered but the pain was gone from them. She fidgeted with the end of her shorter locks, “I had Poppy help me fix it. I’m still not sure about the cut.”
He lifted his hand to her cheek, the feeling of her skin on igniting his skin as it did all those years ago. He slid his hand through the silk strands holding her gaze, “You look beautiful, Rose. While the blond was nice, this is how I remembered you.”
“Gary liked the blond,” she whispered her stare breaking his lowering back to her hands. “I just wanted to feel like me again.”
“I mean it,” he stroked her cheek with his thumb, “You take my breath away.”
Her eyes met his hesitantly a small smile gracing her lips, “You always knew just what to say to me didn’t you?”
“Lately I haven’t felt like anything I could say to you was right,” he replied hurt flashing through her eyes. “But, I’m willing to try and say all the right things from now on if you’d let me.”
She hugged him close burying her face into his chest. Her legs widening to fit his hips between them as she held him close. Her warm body setting his entire body to flames pressed to his. He couldn’t help lowering he head to bury his head into her hair inhaling her scent. So many nights he dreamed of holding her close like this again. His memory seemed to pale in comparison to having the ability to hold her close like this. Just the two of them alone, wrapped in each other’s arms. This is where he was meant to be.
She pulled back slightly her dark brown eyes staring into his. “I don’t want to be alone Dustin. Stay the night with me.”
“I’ll be wherever you need me Rosie,” he replied laying her head back against his chest.